CLAYTON Harmey knows having more than half the field doesn't guarantee success in the Inter City Pace final (2422 metres), but he'd love nothing more than to "tick it off the bucket list" at Maitland Showground on Saturday night.
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Although being "extra busy" the Nulkaba trainer admits it's "pretty special" to have six of the 10 runners, including the two favourites I'm Quick As Fire ($2.25) and Major Bob ($3), in the $20,400 feature and now wants to add the time-honoured prize to his honour roll.
"It [Inter City Pace] is something you always want to win," Harmey, 41, told the Newcastle Herald.
"I think it's the 58th running so growing up in harness racing that race has been there every year of my life. Every bigger race I want to win and in the Newcastle-Hunter region, it and the Newcastle Mile are the only ones I haven't won.
"I'll probably never win the Newcastle Mile, don't know if I'll ever have anything good enough, but just to tick it off the bucket list.
"We've had a great couple of years and the staff have been great to get there for me. A group 1 [Hunter Regional Championship] and a group 2 [Golden Guitar] last year ... so to start the new season with an Inter City Pace would be great."
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Harmey, who recently finished a career-high third on the state premiership with 158 winners from an extended 2019-20 season, says there's "probably a bit more pressure" to get the job done.
He can only remember placing at best in a handful of previous Inter City Pace final appearances, but "that was a long time ago. I've never had a live chance like I have this week".
I'm Quick As Fire has drawn second on the front line with Max Power widest from gate six.
Major Bob (No.11) will be joined on the second row by stablemates Bobsled Boy, Azur Express and Johnson Step.
"He [Major Bob] has to go good to win that from where he is ... but just on training them and comparing the six horses he's the top pick," Harmey said.
He reckons Michael Formosa's Military Man, Dwayne Sarina's A Gift From Heaven and Neil Thompson's Ultra Bliss pose the main threats.
The Inter City Pace series, including heats last Sunday, were postponed from a usual December-January timeslot because of COVID-19.
Andrew Ison's Shadow Pass is the other runner. Darren Elder's Rocktagonal is the emergency.
Main event at 8:18pm. Action on the eight-race card from 6:22pm.
Newcastle next hosts a meeting this Friday (April 9).
INTER CITY PACE: Ultra Bliss, I'm Quick As Fire, Rocktagonal (em), Military Man, Shadow Pass, Max Power, Bobsled Boy, A Gift From Heaven, Azur Express, Johnson Step, Major Bob.
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